SageAdvice
SageAdvice is both a philosophy and a course of action which represents the mission of the Adult Development & Aging office of Kansas State University Research and Extension.
Mission
The ultimate goals of SageAdvice are to: 1) combat false beliefs and misconceptions about the aging process, and 2) counter ageism (the systematic stereotyping of and discrimination against people because they are old1) through the dissemination of research-based education. These goals are achieved through the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs that emphasize adaptive aging. SageAdvice teaches caregivers and care recipients how to access resources and utilizes innovative technologies to support outreach efforts. The targeted audience for these programs are current and emerging family caregivers and care recipients, as they represent a vulnerable and at-risk population.
Identifying the Need
SageAdvice began in 2007 with a needs assessment that utilized focus group methodology with baby boomers (those born between 1946-1964) in the state of Kansas. Other sources of information were also included in the overall needs assessment process, including focus groups with Kansas State University Research and Extension agents, one-to-one interviews with stakeholders, interviews with gerontology professionals within the state, and a review of current research.
Baby boomers were purposely selected as the main population for the needs assessment. They represent a large segment of American society, and, as they draw closer to retirement age, also represent the population of emerging caregivers.
By 2030, nearly 23 percent of the total American population will be 45-64 years of age, and one of every five Americans will be 65 years of age or older.2 These percentages are reflected in the predictions for the state of Kansas: approximately 23 percent will fall within the ages of 45-64, and 20.2 percent will be age 65 or older in 2030.3 In other words, baby boomers will drive the face of aging in the near future.
Baby boomers are different than previous generations as they are not only resistant to aging, but are anti-aging in a manner that has never been seen before4 and often report feeling younger than their actual age.5 The juxtaposition of an aging society that holds negative attitudes about advancing age suggests major future challenges.
The results of the needs assessment process did reveal that Kansas boomers tend to hold negative and false beliefs about aging and to stereotype older adults. Thus, the mission of SageAdvice unfolded as a result of this comprehensive needs assessment, and has the potential to positively impact upon the quality of life of many Kansans. Those people with positive self-perceptions of getting older engage in more preventative health behaviors, report better functional health, and live longer. 6-8
Additionally, ageism is ultimately a human and civil rights issue.9 Ageism differs from racism and sexism as it is a prejudice that everyone in current American society may encounter, as the aging process is itself inevitable. Costs of ageist attitudes to the individual are high,9 and include attempts to avoid the aging process altogether and loss of self-esteem.10
The Programs
As a result of the comprehensive needs assessment, the SageAdvice philosophy was born. Five programs have been developed, adapted, or adopted for implementation in the state, and are in various stages of readiness. SageAdvice includes several other initiatives, including the Age Buzz newsletter, the web site, and ongoing radio interviews and press releases. All of these programs and initiatives work together to address false beliefs and misconceptions about the aging process through the dissemination of research-based education, with a focus on assisting family caregivers and care recipients.
Currently, SageAdvice consists of five major programs: Fashion an Easier Lifestyle with Assistive Technology; Intentional Harmony; Kansans Optimizing Health; and Legally Secure Your Financial Future and Prepare To Care.
These five programs work together to address challenges that may arise within the adult lifespan trajectory, from working adults with children, to those with chronic disease, to those who are working to maintain independence at home, and those that are facing end-of-life issues. An evaluation process for the programs does exist. This information is shared with stakeholders and others interested in the effectiveness of these programs through the development of impact reports posted on the web site.
Intentional Harmony was developed by the University of Illinois Extension System, and is a program for all working adults. Here, individuals are taught how to bring balance to both work and life and to address the false belief that uncontrollable stress is a natural consequence of this stage of the life span trajectory. Participants learn tips and skills that help them adapt their current lifestyle to minimize stress, increase satisfaction with relationships, and maintain and improve health. One section is designed specifically for working caregivers. Approximately 50 KSRE employees are trained leaders, and this program is currently provided throughout the state.
Fashion an Easier Lifestyle with Assistive Technology was developed by KSRE, and is designed to help older adults and their caregivers who want to adapt the living environment to make certain tasks easier to complete. Individuals learn that it may be possible to retain independence and remain at home with the assistance of certain devices and techniques. The program helps individuals to discover that there are ways to enhance quality of life although there may be a loss of functional ability. This program is currently being implemented across the state.
Kansans Optimizing Health was developed by Stanford University for individuals who are living with a chronic disease and for their caregivers. This program is provided to citizens of Kansas through a partnership with t he Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Individuals are taught how to manage their symptoms to minimize pain, how to minimize disruption in preferred activities, and to increase quality of life. The program helps individuals to recognize that they can impact these issues through personal actions and that they are not necessarily an inevitable consequence of the aging process. Participants are taught adaptive techniques to apply to improve their current and future quality of life.
Legally Secure Your Financial Future is a national template program adapted for Kansas by Kansas State University Research and Extension, and assists individuals with end-of-life issues. The program helps individuals and caregivers understand that it is possible to retain some control in decision-making even in the face of injury and illness. Participants are provided with information and taught specific skills that they can undertake in the present that will help them to manage their quality of life when they are unable to make those decisions for themselves.
Prepare To Care was developed by the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES), an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture and the federal partner in the Cooperative Extension System, and the AARP Foundation. These organizations have partnered in order to educate employers and employees regarding the effects of caregiving. The program was established to help employers and employees realize that working together on adult care issues can improve the bottom line for employers, while also improving quality of life for employees.
Summary
Ensuring that the citizens of the state of Kansas have access to the latest research and knowledge about aging is the foundation of the SageAdvice mission. Specific programs and initiatives that disseminate knowledge regarding both t he gains and losses in old age and that teach skills in adapting to the aging process help to serve this mission. Please contact your local Extension agent for more information on SageAdvice.
Footnotes
1Butler, R. (1969). Age-ism: Another form of bigotry. The Gerontologist, 9(3), 243-6.
2U.S. Census Bureau. (2004). Projected population of the United States, by age and sex: 2000 to 2050. Available from: http://www.census.gov/ipc / www/usinterimproj/natprojtab02a.pdf
3U.S. Census Bureau. (2005). Population pyramids of Kansas: Percent of total population. Available from: http://www.census.gov/population/ projections/17PyrmdKS3.pdf
4Weiss, M. J. (2002, October). Chasing Youth. American Demographics, 35-41.
5Zebrowitz, L. (2003). Aging stereotypes-Internalization or inoculation? A commentary. The Journals of Gerontology: PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES, 58B(4), P214-215.
6Levy, B. & Myers, L. (2004). Preventative health behaviors influenced by self-perceptions of aging. Preventative Medicine, 39, 625-29.
7Levy, B., Slade, M., & Kasl, S. (2002). Longitudinal benefit of positive self-perceptions of aging on functional health. Journal of Gerontology: PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES, 57B(5), P409-417.
8Levy, B., Slade, M., Kunkel, S., & Kasl, S. (2002). Longevity increased by positive self-perceptions of aging. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83(2), 261-70.
9Butler, R. (2006). Combating ageism: A matter of human and civil rights. In International Longevity Center-USA, LTD, Ageism in America. (Available from: Intergenerational Longevity Center-USA, 60 East 86th Street, New York, New York, 10028)
10Calasanti, T. (2005). Ageism, gravity, and gender: Experiences of aging bodies. Generations, 29(3), 8-12.